From the Times Union:
Camden County sheriff's assistant indicted for credit card fraud
After being indicted for credit card fraud, some want her out.
WOODBINE - Camden County Sheriff Tommy Gregory's administrative assistant remains on the job despite being indicted on 13 felony counts of financial transaction card fraud.
The indictment issued by a Wayne County grand jury accuses Alana Clark of making at least one unauthorized purchase each month in 2008 on a credit card of her former employer, Ryker Investments.
The indictment does not specify the dollar amount Carter is accused of spending without permission.
District Attorney Stephen Kelley said he is unsure how much Clark is accused of spending, but the amount is "substantial." Kelley declined further comment, saying he and other prosecutors are not allowed to discuss specific facts in the case.
Officials at Ryker Investments could not be contacted for comment Tuesday. The two listed phone numbers were disconnected.
Clark did not respond to repeated messages left for her Tuesday at the Sheriff's Office.
Gregory said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation told him about the criminal investigation several weeks before the April 20 indictment, but has intentionally distanced himself from the investigation so there is no appearance he is attempting to interfere with the case.
Gregory said he conducted a criminal background check on Clark before she was hired in January and found no prior convictions. She was not removed from the position because Gregory said Clark has no county credit card or access to cash.
"She's been exemplary in this job," he said. "She claims it was a misunderstanding. They claim she used a credit card inappropriately. She says she didn't. Let the judicial system do what it's designed to do."
If she is convicted, Gregory said "that day I'll fire her."
"It could take two years before this is heard [by a jury]," he said. "If I cut her legs from under her, how can she hire a defense attorney?"
County Commissioner Steve Berry said he was "stunned and disappointed" with the indictment and Gregory's insistence Clark remain on the job. During his campaign last year, Gregory promised to restore credibility to the department, which is under investigation by the GBI for using inmate labor on Cumberland Island and unauthorized expenditures from a seized asset account.
In 2007, Berry also criticized former Sheriff Bill Smith for refusing to fire Gina Evanson, a former department finance officer accused of charging more than $890 in Christmas gifts on a Sheriff's Office credit card that she eventually repaid.
"There is a big difference between Gina Evanson and this case," he said. "Gina was never indicted."
Berry said Clark should have been suspended without pay immediately after Gregory learned about the indictment.
"He's going to lay off 34 people, but he's going to keep on the payroll a woman accused of theft," Berry said. "What message does this send to the employees? And what message does this send to the people of Camden County?"
Commissioner Charlene Sears, a former sheriff's employee who replaced Evanson after she was removed from her position, said she supports Gregory's decision. She said there were no morale problems "that would have hindered operations" while Evanson was investigated.
"He is a constitutional officer and has the right to do what he wants with his employees." Sears said of Gregory. "She's innocent until proven guilty, even with an indictment. The law and the court system should take its course."
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6 comments:
She needs to go, Tommy has a plate full as it is without another glorified phone answering, overpaid person dragging him down
I can't believe he is defending her actions. For God sake the woman has already been indicted. I know alot of people reading about this regret the fact that they voted for Gregory.
if i am not mistaken didn't 1 of our commissioners have a little problem a few years ago something about LAW books. I don't think he resigned because of it either. P.S. it's also the 1 running his pie hole in the paper.
Tommy is doing the right thing standing behind his employee, until she is found guilty. However he is now the head of the political snake. So when people see the snake is venomous, they cut off the head. So squirm fast Tommy.
He has done just the opposite of everything he said he would do. He said he could run the office on 6 million. He has'nt done that the first budget that comes under his watch and he cry foul that they would want him to run the department on 6 million. Then he stood flat footed at several events and stated that ANYONE with any hint of wrong doing would be fired immediately. He even went on to say that if he were Sheriff Gina Evanson would have been fired immediately. Now that concept is also out the window. Will he deliver on any of the rhetoric he told voters in order to win? It does'nt look like it.....
Hello! Ms. Evanson was a CCSo employee at the time and was KNOWN to have used the CCSO's credit card unlawfully for personal opurchases - family Christmas presents, no less. Rather than being fired, she had been told repeatedly by BTW to just pay the momney back. Not only id dshe not pay it back, but lied, saying she had, and even went so farf as to produce a bogus photocopy of what she purported to be her canceled check from paying it.
By contrast, Mrs. Clark hads ben indicted - NOT CONVICTED - of misusing a credit card on a prior job, in no way related to her current employment at the sheriff's office. She is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury of her peers.
There simply is no similarity of the two cases. Sheriff Gregory's actions in the matter are exactly correct so far.
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